GPS-THE EMPEROR'S NEW POSITION?

Authors

  • Julian West

Keywords:

Atmospheric physics, Design

Abstract

Since October of 1995, the IGC has agreed to accept GPS measurements for the verification of both badge and record flights. However, the GPS units used in gliders are only navigation aids with a quite remarkable, but somewhat less than perfect, accuracy. Only when operated with an external antenna and as differential GPS, which eliminates most sources of error, do they have the degree of accuracy required by the current sporting code. Standard GPS seems just as good only because nobody normally bothers to check its absolute accuracy. Although most of the time this accuracy is better than 110 yards, errors of several hundreds of yards have been observed by the author.

Downloads

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (1997)

Section

Articles

License

CLEARANCE AND LICENSE TO PUBLISH:

This paper is UNCLASSIFIED (for public reasons) and has been cleared by the appropriate agencies, company and government. This paper represents original work by the author(s). No portion of the material is covered by a prior copyright; or for any portion copyrighted, the author has obtained permission for its use.
I hereby license OSTIV to publish this paper and to use it for all of OSTIV's current and future publications uses.